Setting the Record Straight on Middle East History

The Detroit Free Press, on March 13, published a full page of so-called his-
tory of the Middle East conflict. The page included maps, timelines, biogra-
phies of Palestinian Chairman Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon and many other "facts."

Regrettably this "history" was terribly flawed, inaccurate, and distorted;
indeed, it was offensive to Israel, supporters of Israel—Jew and non-Jew
alike—and all those who respect and value responsible journalism.

We feel compelled to set the record straight primarily because this was pub-
lished as history. This was not an editorial or news story, and it needs to be
corrected before the report is accepted as factual and accurate.

The "history" was a gross misrepresentation not only in what it reported but
what it omitted. Unfortunately we can deal only with a few highlights in
this response.

—The Free Press did not report that the primary objective of some 20 Arab
nations for the last 50 years has been to destroy Israel. Since the creation of
Israel in 1948, the Arabs were responsible for five wars—"to drive Israel into
the sea"
and hundreds of terrorist attacks. They also attacked Israelis
for countless years before1948. The objective to destroy Israel has never
changed, a conclusion supported by a recent proposal of Saudi Arabia's
Crown Prince to finally recognize Israel's right to exist.

—The Free Press reported on the plight of Palestinian refugees by stating,
"...Palestinians fled...or were driven out as Israeli forces captured or
destroyed Arab areas." Much has been written on the point that Israel asked
the Arabs not to flee but they were convinced to leave by the warring Arab
nations who attacked Israel. The Arab nations stated the refugees could
return after the expected Arab victory.

Before the Arabs found it politically advantageous to fault Israel for the
Palestinian problem, Arab leaders blamed their colleagues. The late King
Hussein, of Jordan, stated: "Since 1948, Arab leaders have approached the
Palestinian problem in an irresponsible manner. They have used the
Palestinian people for selfish political purposes. This is ridiculous and, I
could say, even criminal."

The former Prime Minister of Syria, Kaled Al-Azm, said Arabs "exploited"
the refugees, adding "it is we who made them leave...we brought disaster -
upon Arab refugees...we rendered them dispossessed...we exploited them in
executing crimes of murder, arson, throwing bombs upon women and chil-
dren...all this in the service of political purposes."

The United Nations, before turning fervently anti-Israel, if not anti-
Semitic (Zionism equals racism), said in one of its reports, "...the truth is
that the Arab states, whenever the question (of Palestinian refugees) arose,
have done nothing but attack Israel."

—The Free Press does not mention the word "terror" or "terrorist"
in any context and described Chairman Arafat purely in terms of
his political career while Prime Minister Sharon is mentioned as
being considered a "war criminal" by the Arabs and as "best known" for
his connection with the tragedy at Sabra and Shatilla. There is not one word
about 40 years of terror committed by Chairman Arafat who founded the
PLO to destroy Israel.

The Free Press implies that the PLO Covenants calling for the destruc-
tion of Israel have been revoked. The truth is they have not. Not only that
but Chairman Arafat and other PLO top officials have continually called for
Israel's destruction during the peace process in speeches in Arabic, speeches
never reported by the Free Press or, for that matter, most other news outlets.
Indeed, recently President Bush said that one of the U.S.'s demands is for
Yasser Arafat to pledge his commitment to peace in Arabic to Arab audi-
ences.

—The Free Press implies that the second intifada was launched because of
Prime Minister Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount. The truth is planning
for a second intifada and violence was well under way before Sharon's visit.
And, as was widely reported, his visit was approved by Palestinian authori-
ties.

—The Free Press did not distinguish between the targeted killings of inno-
cent civilians by Yasser Arafat and the unfortunate fatalities of civilians
caused by the Israeli military which, at times, as in the U.S. war in
Afghanistan or any war, are regrettably unavoidable, especially when terror-
ists, as a strategy, purposely take refuge among civilians.

There is much, much more. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to correct
such a flawed report or the incalculable damage it has done because teach-
ers—at all levels— may use this "history" in their classes and much of the
public may accept it as being accurate.

We want to make one final point: We are passionate supporters of a free
press and the First Amendment. The Free Press has a right to publish any-
thing it wants, including distorted history. However, we also have a right to
demand fairness, accuracy, and balance.

We request that the Free Press publish this page in its paper as a service to
the community and to indicate that it is prepared to be fair and accurate.
One of the committee members who helped develop this response will con-
tact the Free Press and we hope for a favorable reply.

While are aware of the paper's attempt to correct a few facts on Page 2 in its
March 27 edition in the "Getting the Record Straight" column, those cor-
rections hardly begin to touch on all the errors, distortions or the context of
the full page. Nor would the "corrections" on Page 2 attract major reader-
ship, the kind achieved by the full page of "history."

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4/12

2002

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Barbara Acker
Ashley Aidenbaum
Connie Aidenbaum
Guido Aidenbaum
Max Aidenbaum
Whitney Aidenbaum
David Aisner
Ida Aisner
Susan Zorn Aisner
Susie Aisner
Karen Alpiner
Neal Alpiner
Beth Alter
Marla Alter
Robert Alter
Burton Ansell
Marjory Ansell
Deborah Anstandig
Jack Anstandig
Jared Anstandig
Lois Anstandig
Marcia Anstandig
Beverly Apel
Fred Apel
Michelle Friedman Appel
Irwin J. Arkin
David Ash
Maureen B. Ash

Vadim Avshalumov
Bradley Baker
Iry Baker
Janette Baker
Natalie Baker
Stanley Band
Nathan Banker
Sharon Banks
Dr. Leora Bar-Levav
Harold Barman
Carolyn S. Bamett-Goldstein
Isaac Barr
Miriam Barr
Betty Barsky
Dr. Murray Baruch
Linda Baruch
Dr. Eliezer Basse
Dr. Leemor Basse
Nir Basse
Oren Basse
Pnina Basse
Lorraine Baum
Annette Bechek
Andy Beider
Libby Beider
Maria Beider
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Rachel Beider

Shirley Beider
Shoshana Beider
Leon Bekker
Barbara Ben
Alex Bendana
Ellen Bendana
Gabe Bendana
Mario Bendana
Faye Benenson
Jody Benishay
Ron Benishay
Norman Benjamin
Herbert Benson
Miriam Berenstein
Lawrence T. Berkove
Rabbi Jonathan Berkun
Rabbi Lauren Berkun
Diane Berman
Joseph Berman
Minnie G.Berman
Rena Berman
Rose Berman
Sam J. Berman
Cantor Earl Berris
Doron Berris
liana Berris
Leore Berris
Marilyn Berris-Lantor

Lawrence Berry
Sharon Berry
Lea Beurer
Out Beurer
Roland Beufer
Nita Beurer-Bekker
Peter BeVier
Collete Bingham
Abraham Birenbaum
Sheila Birenbaum
Sue Birnholtz
Shirley Bitter
Ruth Blackman
Saul Blackman
Erik Blauberg
Da. vid Blewett
Ecumenical Institute for
Christian-Jewish Studies
Arlene Blum
George Blum
Jerome Blum
Joyce Blum
Rose Bohm
Eli Boichis
Hadar Boichis
Dr. Linda R. Bolton
Dr. Mathew Borovoy
Marc A. Borovoy

Marcy Boskee
Avi Brandvain
Beth Brandvain
Bill Braun
Nancy Braun
Brian Brodsky
Danielle Brodsky
Dina Brodsky
Herman Brodsky
Jeffrey Brodsky
Stacy Brodsky
Tamara Brodsky
Helene Brody
Rachel Brody
Josephine Lee Brookenthal
Keith Brookenthal
Blair Brown
Brandon Brown
Eric Brown
Ira Brown
Lisa Brown
Mami Brown
Max Brown
Sam Brown
Sydney Brown
Tami Brown
Bethany Bryans
Emily Buckman

Isadore Buckman
Rabbi Lee Buckman
Rachel Buckman
Seymour Burg
Gayle Burstein
Richard Burstein
David Chatlin
Ari Chesterman
Barry Chesterman
Benjamin Chesterman
Nathan Chesterman
Miriam Chesterman
Dr. Adrian J. Christie
Mynetta Christie
Meyer Chudnow
Dr. and Mrs. Cohen & Family
Linda E Cohen
Jaime Cohen
Larry S. Cohen
Lauren Cohen
Ronal S. Cohen
Shirley A. Cohen
Celia Cohn
Larry Collins
Morton Collins
Denise Cook
Lynn Cooper
Barbara Crumback

Amy Cutler
Deborah Cymerint
Jeff Cymerint
Debra Darvick
Martin Darvick
Gitty Dater
Jerry Dater
Joel B. Davidson
Jo Robin Davis
Michael Donenfeld
Sheila Donenfeld
Alan Y. Droz
Marilyn Droz
Blanche Duke
Greg Durkin
Arie Dvir
Ben Dvir
Michal Dvir
Tamar Dvir
Dr. Gary Edelson
Dorit Edut
Shimon Edut
Gerald Eizen
Rebecca Eizen
Morris Elie
Michael Elman
Julie Englender
Carolyne Epstein

